Automatic windshield cleaner



Aug. 16, 1927.

B. l. MALOUF AUTOMATIC WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed April 14, 1924 2Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 16,1927. 1,639,043

B. l. `MALOUF AUTOMATIC WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed April 14. 1924 2Sheets-Sheet 2 'lill (Amun piston Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATES i 1,639,043 PATENT OFFICE;

BESHARA I.

MENTS, TO '1IONO]5I NEW YORK.

MALOUF, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- TRICO PRODUCTSCORPCRATION, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK,

A CORPORA- AUTOMATIC WINDSHIELD CLEANER.

App1ication led April 14, 1324. Serial No. 706,430.

This invention relates to an automatic windshield cleaner, particularlyto a construction wherein the wiper arm 1s given opposite impulses by avane disposed within an air chamber and adapted to be actuated by fluidtension from a suitable power medium. In devices of this character 1t 1snecessary for their practical operation under all conditions that themovable parts be simplified in structure and so arranged as to elfect aquick and definite transfer of the power applied to effect theoscillation of the wiper arm in opposite directions. For this purposethe present invention provides an oscillating vane disposed within anair tight chamber and adapted in its movements to control a valve whichis automatically shifted to alternately apply the operating power atopposite sides of the vane as it approaches the limits of its travel.

The invention has for its object to provide a novel and improvedconstruction of operating means for a windshield cleaner comprising acasing provided with ports for the application of fluidtension to a vanepivotally mounted intermediate of said ports and provided with means bywhich the operation of the vane in its opposite directions of travelwill control the shifting movement of a valve disposed to govern saidports.

The invention also has for an object to provide an improved Windshieldcleaner comprising a casing containing a pivoted member adapted to beactuated by a fluid medium and controlled by a shifting valve, togetherwith means for positively and quickly shifting said valve as the pistonmember approaches its opposite limits of travel.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved structure ofcasing with an oscillating vane therein, the shaft of which carriesduring a port-ion of its travel, a shift lever which engages an arm upona rotary valve to shift the latter and establishv communicationsuccessively at the opposite sides of" the vane.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved structure ofvalve shifting mechanism for the power mechanism of a windshield cleanerwhich involves a shift lever adapted tobe actuated from the shaft of themovable member of the cleaner, an

oscillatory valve disposed to control the application of fluid pressureor tension to said member, and a tension device connecting said leverand valve to impart a quick movement of the latter as the vaneapproaches the limit of its travel.

.Other and further objects and advantages o f the invention will behereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by theappended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a cleaner applied With parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Figure 5;

.Figure 3 is a detail elevation of the outer face of the valve with theshift lever in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a similar view of the inner valve face;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a section on approximately the plane of the line G-G ofFigure 1;

Figure 7 is a detail planof the under face of the cover plate;

Figure 8 is an elevation of the shiftlever and valve in its'positionprior to shifting action;

Figure 9 is a similar View of the position of the parts after suchaction; and

Figure 10 is a detail elevation of the ported face of the casing With-which the valve cooperates.

Like reference numerals .indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawing.

The numeral 10 designates the casin'g of the power mechanism foractuating the cleaner whichniay be of any desired construction or conguration and is herein shown as segmental. This casing may be providedat opposite sides with attaching lugs 11 through which suitable devicesare applied for securing the casing to the frame 12 at the upper portionof the windshield 13 as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1. Atopposite sides this casing is provided with bearing portions 14 for theshaft 15 which carries the operative parts of the mechanism. Acooperating bearing 16 is formed in the cover platev17 which is securedto the horizontal upper face of the casing by any desired means such asfastening devices 18. Each of the bearings 14 and 16 is provided Withgrooves 19 Which cooperate With peripheral grooves 2O o n the sha-ft toreceive a packing ring 21 to insure an air and oil tight connection ateach side of the chamber 22 within the casing.

The shaft 15 is provided with a vane or piston 23 adapted to oscillatein opposite directions Within the chamber 22. This pis-l ton may be ofany desired character but a preferred form is herein shown wherein thelinner members 24 are formed of leather or other flexible material toeffect an air tight joint With the several Walls of the chamber andcover and are clamped together' by rigid plates 25 secured thereto byattaching devices as at 26. These plates are of less area than thefiexible body of the vane Which projects beyond the peripheral faces ofthe plates as shown in Figure 5.

The vane may be attached to the shaft 15 by any desired means such asone of the fastening devices 26 and it projects beyond this shaft at itsend 27 Which traverses a segmental or dome-shaped portion 28 upon thecover 17. By this construction an air tight joint is eifected at bothends of the piston as Well as about its side Walls which eifectuallydivides the chamber 22 into separate compartments adapted to'receivethe` air tension. This shaft 15 is extended beyoud the casing andprovided at one end With attaching means 29 to receive the Wiper arm 30Which carries the Wiper 31 and the latter may be of any desiredconstruction. This mounting permits the adjustment of the Wiper to thedesired line of vision or height upon the Windshield. The opposite endof` the shaft is provided WithI a handle 32 rigidly securedthereto andby means yof Which the Wiper may be moved into a position substantiallyparallel with the upper frame of the Windshield and substantially out ofthe line of vision when the part-s are not in use.

The casing 10 is provided upon one side face With a valve casing 33 andis also formed With a portl arrangement for introducing the air tensionat opposite sides of the vane, and adapted to be controlled by a valvemember 34 Within this casing. A desirable arrangement of such parts isherein disclosed and comprises the power' port` 35 from which a channel-36 extends to a suitable conduit 37 connected with a proper source ofair tension such as the intake of an explosive engine, as usual in thisart. The flow through the channel 36 is conf trolled by means of aneedle valve 38 by which the speed of operation of the device may beadjusted or lthe same rendered in-I operative. The casing is furtherprovided j With the distributing ports 39 and channels or conduits 40extending to the upper portion vof the casing 10 Where they communicat-ewith the feed channels 41 formed in the under face of the cover plate17. These feed channels -are disposed to apply fthe air tension atopposite sides of the axis of the oscillating vane to control itsalternate movement in opposite directions.

The Valve 34 is formed upon its inner face which abuts the casing With aconducting passage or channel 42 and also with reliefl ports 43. Thisvalve is mounted upon a bearing or stud 44 from the casing and is heldin tirmcontact therewith by means of a compression spring 45 surroundingthe bearing and engaging the head 46 thereof. The oscillating travel ofthe valve 34 is limited by a stop 47 carried by the casing andtraversing a slot Way 48 of theivalve.

Loosely mounted upon the shaft 44 is a valve arm or lever 49 which isprovided With a lat-eral lug 50 disposed to traverse a recess 51 at theperiphery of the valve providing for a lost motion of the shift armbefore engaging and moving the valve. The opposite end of the arm 49 islaterally extended l56. This pin 55 operates in a cut-away portion 57 ofthe lever54 and travels therein Without actuating the lever during themain protion of the movement of the vane in one direction and as thelatter approaches the limit of such movement the pin engages a socket 58and carri-es the lever with the shaft of the vane. The opposite end ofthe lever is formed With lugs 59 disposed at opposite sides of theextension 52 from the valve arm and adapted to engage such extension.When the movement of the lever begins the valve arm is -moved but owingto its lost motion connection With the valve does not impart movementthereto. Such preliminary movement. of the arm, however, shifts thelovver end of the tension spring 53 laterally and toward the axis of thevalve until the parts are upon a dead center and the Spring practicallyinactive. As soonas this center is passed in the continued mov-ement ofthe lever and arm the sp'rino' immediately retracts and throws theval-)ve arm and valve by a quick and definite movement insuring aninstantaneous shifting of the parts and a transfer of the fluid pressureto the opposite side of the vane.

The cover plate is provided upon its inner face with a dependinglpartition 60 which partially embraces the shaft 15 and prevents axialmovement thereon of the shift lever and other parts connected thereto.The casing 33 for' the valve mechanism is also provided With acover'plate 61 situated at the open side thereof and adapted to beretained in position by th'e heads of the fastenmg screws 62 enteringsaid casing. In

order to maintain anair tight connection `between the casing and cover asuitable gasket 63 may be used at that point.

In the'operation of the device When the Wiper arm andv its actuatingpiston or vane is at one limit of their travel and about to begin thereturn stroke, the valve actuating elements are in the position shown inFigures 1 and 3 and a vacuum established 1n the casingvat the right ofFigure 1, as the val-ve ports are disposed to establish anv operatingtension at one side of the piston and to admit atmospheric pressure atthe opposite side thus producing unbalanced pressure in the chamber.

In the movement of the cleaner its shaft travels Within the slot of thelever until the parts are substantially in the full line. position shownin Figure 8 When a further movement causes] the pin carried by thecleaner shaft. to engage and move the shiftf ing lever to the dottedline position.in that figure. This disposes the spring in alignment withthe axis of the valve pivot or upon a dea-d center relative to the valvemotion. Thecontinued movement of the lever carries the spring past thiscenter and its retracting action immediately snaps or throws the valveinto an opposite position effecting a quick movement thereof. This isfacilitated by the mounting of the arm upon the valve for lost motion asthe finger on the lever engages and carries this arm from one extreme tothe other permitting the spring to pass the valve center without theresistance of shifting the valveand with the resulting effect that as.soon as said center is passed the spring retracts to the oppositeposition shown in Figure 9 thus reversing the valve.

It Will-be observed that in the movement of the lever With the valve armthe spring becomes tensioned as it approaches the valve center and'itsretraction beyond that point provides an independent tensioning meansfor shifting the valve not necessarily controlled by the full extent ofmovement of the piston or vane so that When the latter has reached itsextreme limit of travel the fluid tension is immediately applied at theopposite sides thereof to effect the reversing movement.

The construction shown provides a very simple type of actuating motorfor the cleaner in which the frictional resistance of an intermediategearingvis avoided and the actuating vane directly applied to the shaftof the cleaner which in its opposite directions of travel controls theshift of the fluid pressure valve by'vvhich the induced tension from theengine intake is utilized for the operation of the device. Theconstruction by which a quick and instantaneousshifting of the valve 1seffected is particularly important in a device of thls character as 1tinsures a continuous and reliable operation which is frequently defeatedwhen the actuating power is sloWl applied and cut oit'. from theopposite si es of the piston, par*- ticularly under 4adverse Weatherconditions.

The construction of casing and valve therein provides a simple means bywhich an air tight connection between the operating vane and theenclosing case is secured which effectual'ly prevents leakage andestablishes a reliable operation of the parts the speed of which may becontrolled through the needle valve` determining the amount of pressureapplied.

'While the specific construction of the actuating means for theWindshield cleaner` has been shown and described, -changes andalterations may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a motor, a casing, an oscillating vane having a shaftmountedtherein, a va'lve shifting arm mounted upon said shaft, a movable valvefor controlling'the application of fluid pressure to the opposite sidesof said vane, a tension device connecting `the valve and shaft forquickly shifting said valve, and means upon the shaft teniporarilyengaging said arm for tensioning and actuating one end of said device.

2. A motor for Windshield cleaners comprising a casinghaving a valveseat, a piston in the casing, 'fluid iconduits leading from vthe valveseat to the interior of the casing on opposite sides of said piston, avalve disk in contact with said seat, a pivot post on said casingpivotally mounting the disk for oscillatory movement to alternatelyconnect the conduits with a source of operating pressure, a stop postmounted on the casing and coacting with the disk for limiting itsoscillatory movement, a lever pivoted on one of said posts and having anend engaging a portion of said disk at one side of the pivot thereof,and having another end extending to the opposite side' of said pivot, arock shaft to Which the piston is directly connected, said shaft havinga par-t extending theref'roinfor swinging from one side of the pivot ofsaid disk to the other side of said pivot, a spring connecting saidshaft part to the extending end of said lever, said shaft-connected endof said spring being moved thereby from one side of the pivot of thedisk to the other side of said pivot, and means operable. by and duringa movement of the piston for swinging said extending end of the leverafter shaft extended end of 'said spring has been moved to the oppositeside of the pivot of saiddisk.

3. A motor for Windshield cleaners comprising a easing'having a valveseat, a piston in the casing, fluid conduits leading from the valve seatto the interior of the casing on opposite sides of said piston, a valvedisk in contact with said seat, a pivot post on said casing pivotallymounting the disk for oscillatory movement to alternately connect theconduits with a source of operating pressure, a slop post mounted on thecasing and coacting with the disk for limiting its occillatory movement,a lever pivoted on one of said posts and having an endengaging a portionof said disk at one side of the pivot thereof, and having another endextending to the opposite side of said pivot, a rock shaft to which thepiston is directly conn-ected, said shaft having a part extendingtherefrom for swinging from one side of the pivot of said disk to theother side of said pivot, a spring connecting said shaft part to theextending end of said lever, said shaft connected end of Said springbeing moved thereby from one side of the pivot of the disk to the otherside of said pivot, and means for swinging the lever during a portion ofthe movement of said shaft part,'to shift its end of the spring, forshifting the spring from one side of the pivot of the disk to the otherside thereof, whereby the disk is snapped to another position.

4. In a motor, a casing, a piston vane having its shaft mounted therein,a lever loose'ly mounted upon said shaft to permit ind-ependent movementthereof for a portion of its travel,V means carried by said shaft toengage and shift said lever therewith in its continued travel in onedirection, a pivoted valve, an arm therefor disposed to be actuated bysaid lever, and a tension spring extending from said arm to the meansupon said shaft.

5. ln a motor, a casing, a piston vane having its shaft mounted therein,a lever loosely mounted upon said shaft/tro permit independent movementthereof for a portion of its travel, means carried by said shaft toengage and shift said lever therewith in its continued travel in onedirection, a pivoted valve, yan arm therefor disposed to be actuated -bysaid lever and having a lost motion connection with said valve, andatension device extending from said arm to said means upon the shaft toeffect simultaneous movement at its opposite ends.

6. A fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners comprising a easinghaving a valve seat, a piston in the casing, said valve seat havingspaced fluid ports communicating with the interior of the casing atopposite sides of the piston, a-valve disk in contact with said seat andhaving spaced parts, a pair of posts on the casing, one post beingpositioned to Contact alternately with said spaced parts of said disk asthe disk is moved to determine two operative positions of said disk, theother of said posts pivotally mounting the disk to oscillate to and fromthe two operative positions on said seat for conneeting the portsalternately with a source of operating pressure, a lever pivQted on oneof said posts, said disk having other spaced parts and said lever havinga part adapted to engage said other disk parts at one side of the pivotof said disks, said lever having an end extending to the opposite sideof said pivot, a rock shaft joui-nailed in the casing and having thepiston fixed thereto, said shaft having an element carried thereby forswinging from one side of the pivot of the disk to the opposite sidethereof, a' spring connected at one end to the extending end of thelever and at the opposite end to said shaft element, the latter end ofthe spring being moved by said element from one side of the axis of saidshaft to the opposite side thereof, and means operable by and duringmovement of the piston for engaging and moving the lever during aportion of the movement of said shaft element for cooperating therewithin shifting the spring from one side to the other side of the pivot ofsaid disk.

7. In a motor, a casing provided with power and distributing ports, apiston vane having its shaft mounted in said casing, a shifting valvefor controlling said ports, a shift lever loosely mounted upon theshaft, a projection from said shaft adapted during a. portion of itstravel to engage and move said lever, an actuating arm connected to saidvalve for a limited free movement, means upon said lever to engage andshift said arm in its movement, and a tension spring extending from saidarm to said projection movable with the shaft of the vane.

8. In a motor, a casing provided with power and distributing ports, avpiston vane having its shaft mounted in said casing.I a rotary valve forcontrolling said ports, a shift lever loosely mounted upon the shafthaving an open upper portion and a bifurcated free end, a projectionfrom said shaft adapted during a portion of its travel to engagethewalls of the open portion and move said lever, an actuating arm carriedby sa'id valve with a part within the bifurcated end of said lever toengage and shift said arm in its movement, and a spring extending fromsaid arm to said shaft projection whereby the connected end of saidspring is moved over the axial center of the valve toeffect a quickshifting movement of the valve actuating arm.

9. In a fluid pressure motor for windshield cleaners, a casing having avalveseat,

ISG

in the casing and having the piston fixedt thereto, a' member mounted onthe shaft and movable first to one and then to the other side ofthepivot -point of said valve disk, a spring connected to a part of saidlever and to said member, and a piston operated member having spacedparts for engaging and moving the lever in opposite directions, saidspaced parts functioning astlie piston approaches its respective limitsof movement and after said first member has moved its end of the springto the opposite side of the pivot point of said valve disk.

10. In a. motor, a casing provided with bearings, a piston vane havingits shaft mounted in said bearings, a cover plate provided withcooperating bearings, a valve actuating lever loosely mounted upon saidshaft, and a depending Wall from said cover constituting a'n addedbearing for said shaft and disposed to retain said lever against axialdisplacement.

11. A motor for Windshield cleaners, comprising a casing, a pistontherein, a rock shaft journalled in the casing and operable by thepiston, said casing having fluid conduits communicating with theinterior of the casing at opposite sides of the piston, a valve forbringing a source of operating pressure alternately into communicationWith said fluid conduits, a lever for actuating said valve, having aplay connection with the latter, a part on the shaft roc-kable back andforth by the piston to opposite sides of the mounting of said lever,resilient means connected at its opposite ends to the lever and shaftpart, and having its ends movable to opposite sides of the mounting ofsaid lever, that end of said resilient means Which is connected to theshaft part being moved back and forth to opposite sides of the levermounting by and during movement of said piston, and means operable fromthe piston to initiate an oscillatory movement of the lever subsequenttothe Amovement of said part-attached end of said resilient means fromone side to the opposite side of the lever mounting, for moving thelever-attached end of the resilient means to a position from which saidresilient means Will continue said oscillatory movement of the lever toeffect actuation of said valve.

l2. A motor for Windshield cleaners, comprising a casing, a pistontherein, a rock shaft journalled inthe casingand operable said casinghavlng fluid. conduits communicating 4with the interior of the casing atopposite sides of the piston, means for alternately applying suction tosaid conduits including a main suction line, a valve for bringing saidsuction line alternately into communication with said fluid conduits, alever having a play connection with the valve for actuating the valvesubsequent to a predetermined idle movement of by the piston,

hc lever, a piston operated member having spaced parts adapted toalternately engagesaid lever as the piston approaches its oppositelimitsl of travel for moving the adjacentl end of said lever therewith,said rock shaft having a part sivingable from one side to the oppositeside of the lever mounting by and during movement of said piston, aspring having its ends connected to the lever and to said shaft part atpoints spaced from their mountings whereby the ends of the. spring -willbe moved to opposite sides of the lever mounting, said shaft part movingits end ot' the spring first and thereby tensioning said spring wherebythe same will act to complete the oscillatory movement of the leverafter the lever movement has been initiated by said piston operatedmember.

13. A motor for Windshield cleaners, comprising a casing, a pistontherein, a roc shaft journalled in the casing and operable by thepiston, said casing having fluid conduits communicating with theinterior of the casing at opposite sides of the piston, means foralternately applying suction to said conduits including a main suctionline, a valve for bringing said suction line alternately intocommunication with said fluid conduits, a lever having a playconnection' at one end with the valve .for actuating the valvesubsequent to a predetermined idle movement of the lever, a pistonoperated member having spaced parts adapted alternately to engage theopposite end of said lever as the piston approaches its respectivelyinitiating an oscillatory movement of said lever, said spaced partsacting upon said lever during its idlemovement, a spring connecting saidopposite end of the lever to a part on said shaft, and means op- 105erable by and during movement of said piston for engaging and movingsaid\opposite end of the lever.

14. A motor for windshield cleaners, comprising a casing, a pistontherein, a roc shaft journalled in the casing and operable by thepiston, said casing having fluid conduits communicating with theinterior of the casing at opposite duits including a main suction'line,a valve, for bringing said suction line alternately into communicationWith said fluid conduits, a lever having a play connection at one endwith the valve for'actuating the valve subsequent to a predeterminedidle movement of the lever, a piston actuated member having spaced partsadapted alternately to engage the opposite end of said lever as thepiston approaches its opposite limits of travel for respectively rockingthe lever in opposite directions, saidf s d parts acting upon said leverdurin its idle movement, an element fixed on t e rock shaft and rockabletherewith by and during movement of said kan opposite limits of travelfor 10 sides of the piston, means for alternately applying suction tosaid conduits communicating With the interior of the casing at oppositesides of the piston, a valve movable for connecting the conduitsalternately to a source of operating pressure, pivoted lever having oneend engaged with said valve, a spring connecting the opposite end ofsaid lever to a part on said rock shaft whereby said shaft-connected endof the spring will be moved back and forth With the shaft by and duringmovement of the piston, and means also operable by and during movementof said piston and subsequent 20 to the initiation ofthe-movement of theshaft-connected end of said spring by said shaft for positively movingthe lever connected end of said spring to bring the axis of the springacross the pivot of the lever whereby the spring Will continue7 inacceleration, the movement of the lever to eect actuation of said valve.

ln testimony whereof l aitiX my signature.

BESHARA l. MALOUF.

